—I've kept everybody in suspense long enough…um, I'm supposed to give a long introduction before letting you read the Chapter…but you can wait until the end of this Chapter before reading my useless rambling. So if you've read this top italic this far, then congratulations…you're a loyal reader…okay, Rizu's is shutting up now and letting you read her Chapter.

Chapter 7 – a Change in "The Perfect Rule"

Evil Diana could only stare in disbelief when she heard Val speak in real time. She got over her surprise quickly and said, "So she can talk out loud. Big deal! My deck leader can do that too. Evil Valkyria, I command you to show everyone what you say."

Evil Val opened her mouth…but no words came out. She couldn't talk aloud like the real Val could. Diana struggled to her feet. "I see it now."

"See what?" Evil Diana grunted.

"I see the difference between us now. My cards are everything to me. I would rather sacrifice my life than see any of them harmed. So answer me this…if one of those Immortal Thieves got hold of your Valkyria and sucked out her immortality, would you give up everything to save her?" Diana said to her evil side.

Pearls of sweat formed on Evil Diana's forehead as she glared angrily at her better half. "Why should I care? If it's not me then what's the point?"

"You just proved my point." Diana said. "You're not my evil half. You're not even a part of me! You're just some illusion that was created by Silverfox."

Daelin looked at the half-elf who sat bolt upright. Jhada's jaw dropped in fear and shock. Th-that power, she thought. I sense powerful magical energies coming from this girl. H-How…wh-why didn't I sense it before? Is she so powerful that she's able to keep her true magic hidden? Or has it truly been lying dormant inside her all this time?

Yugi approached Jhada. "Is Diana right? Why did you create that…that thing? That evil apparition is nothing like my Angel!"

"Put a cork in it, Kingy. I'll explain my reasons once the duel's over. I have a feeling your woman is about to kick serious ass." Jhada said to him. She rubbed the back of her neck where the little hairs were still standing straight up from the shock of Diana's power.

Daelin felt a little ridged too. He could feel Diana's magic as well and it had almost made him wet his armor. I never once felt such great strength, he thought. My power is nothing in comparison to hers.

Now I just have to find the card Val was talking about, Diana thought. She had almost forgotten about her face-down card. It was Solar Ray and she could lower Evil Diana's life points by 600, because Valkyria's attribute was Light. Solar Ray would decrease Evil Diana's life point count depending on how many Light monsters were on the field.

I can't let this illusion of myself defeat me, Diana thought. I trust Val. She choose me to be her duelist and that's why we merged together to fight off Bakura. I know she trusts me and would sacrifice anything to protect me. I have to have that kind of faith in myself. Diana grabbed the card at the top of her deck and picked it up.

"I've never seen this card before." she whispered. Val looked over her shoulder and smiled. This must be the card I need, Diana thought. "I summon a monster face-down in defense mode."

Evil Diana burst out laughing. "That's it! With all that power pulsing from your body I would have expected a huge finale or something! Damn, this is gonna be too easy! Guardian Mage, show her what true power is!" Evil Guardian Mage blasted Diana's Magician of Faith to bits and Evil Diana smirked. "I'm surprised your deck leader didn't protect her."

Diana smiled. "Because I wanted you to destroy my Magician of Faith."

"Say what?"

"I thought you knew. I mean, you are the embodiment of my darker side, right?" Diana shrugged. "Since Magician of Faith was flipped over by your attack, I get to choose a magic card to bring back from my Graveyard."

"Big deal. It won't—" The realization finally hid Evil Diana. "Oh no…"

"Yep." Diana pulled Monster Reborn out of her Graveyard. "I use Monster Reborn to bring back my faithful Blue Eyes!" Diana's Dragon appeared on the field and Evil Guardian Mage's attack points went down to 5100 again.

"It…It still doesn't matter. Your Dragon's power is nothing compared to my mage."

"Who said I was done yet?" Diana snapped. "I still have this ritual card to play. Activate Heaven Metal Ritual!"

"Heaven Metal Ritual! What does that do?"

"Heaven Metal Ritual allows me to fuse two Light monsters together so long as one of those monsters is a spellcaster."

"You don't have a spellcaster in play."

"Sh-She has me!" Val snapped.

Jhada shook her head. "She still can't play that card. A deck leader is there for only one purpose and that is to represent the duelist's life points."

Diana frowned at Jhada. "Really? Is that all a deck leader is good for?"

Jhada clenched her fists. "Listen, Rose Duelist, I have respect for my deck leader, but I follow The Perfect Rule. I don't know what the hell you're thinking."

"Well, maybe your Perfect Rule ain't so damn perfect." Diana spat. "I happen to be thinking that I'm gonna prove you wrong about me. You think I'm weak, well watch this!"

Blue Eyes White Dragon and Val were enveloped in a blinding, but beautiful light. Both monsters merged together and a new creature appeared. She looked like Val in face, hair and eyes except she wore a black sleeveless shirt and a black dress with a slit at the hip. Her bluish-white boots and gloves were clawed much like the Blue Eyes Dragon's claws and feet. Her white helmet was sleek and had devil-looking horns on the sides. The wings that spread out from her shoulder blades were identical to the Blue Eyes White Dragon's wings. Her attack power was 3650 and her defense was 3000.

"It's still not…not powerful enough." Evil Diana snapped.

"Wrong. She gets an extra 1000 attack and defense points for every Light monster on either side of the field. And I count two on your side."

"Shit…" Evil Diana took a step backwards in terror.

Diana smirked. "Oh I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce my new mage. Evil Me, I'd like you to meet Valkyria the Dragon Mage. Now Val, attack her Guardian Mage with Heavenly Clawed Slash!"

The new Val gained her extra points making her attack point at 5650.The claws on her left hand glowed bright gold and she sliced at Evil Guardian Mage with all her might. The evil mage was destroyed instantly and Evil Diana's life points went down to 1550. Diana smiled. "Now you have no monsters left, which means that you're done for."

Evil Diana was in a panic and ran to leave her deck leader all alone. "Val, destroy her deck leader. I'll take care of my darker self." Val nodded and destroyed Evil Valkyria easily.

Diana cornered her dark self at the closed doors of the castle. "It's over. I don't need you anymore."

"Yes you do. I'm your dark side, remember? I'll always be with you."

"Then shut up and leave me alone!" Diana shouted. A blue staff with a Blue Eyes White Dragon head on the top appeared in her hand and she automatically aimed it at her evil self. A blast of electric blue light slammed into Evil Diana, eliminating her…and the doors.

Daelin slapped his forehead. "Dammit…she could have at least left my castle intact."

Jhada laughed so hard that she fell out the throne. "Well done! Well done, Rose Duelist! That was splendid!"

Yugi ran over to his Angel, who fell to her knees in exhaustion. He slipped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek. "My love, you were amazing."

"Guess I altered The Perfect Rule, huh?"

Yugi smiled. "That's all right, Angel." He kissed her again. "I never doubted you."

Diana rested her head against his chest. It was like a pillow and she nuzzled at his heart before falling into unconsciousness. Yugi picked her up in his arms and turned as Daelin approached them. "I'll have my maid show you where the guest rooms are."

"Thank you Lord Gryphonia."

"Call me Daelin."

Daelin snapped his fingers and a mysterious girl came running to his side. She knelt about four feet behind him and said, "You beckoned, Lord Daelin?"

"Melisanne, will you show King Henry to our finest guest room. His lover needs her sleep." Daelin said.

"Yessir." Melisanne was a petite young lady with long, black hair and crystal clear eyes. She was very pale and reminded Yugi of an Oriental woman. She wore a long, tan skirt and a light red jacket with long, loose sleeves. On her hands were red gloves and around her neck was a beige scarf. She stood and bowed to Yugi. "Please, follow me."

Daelin motioned for Yugi to lean in. The King leaned forward and Daelin whispered, "Melisanne is the only servant in my castle. I gave her a home here and in return she has promised to help keep the place more or less tidy. From Fin has told me, her past is a dark one. Don't say anything, but I personally think Fin is in love with her."

Yugi chuckled and straightened. He became serious and said, "I want to thank you for keeping my Angel safe. She means the world to me."

Daelin nodded. "Unfortunately, I don't understand love. The only love I've ever had is the brother-sister kind of love." He sighed sadly. "I suppose that doesn't count."

"I know how you feel. I care deeply for my own brother and I would not want him harmed for anything in the world." Yugi said and hurried to catch up to the young maid.

——————

Nuri snuck back into Bakura's stronghold. He sniffed around the bedroom and was appalled at the sticky substance on the sheets. "Could you guys at least clean up your nasty fluids!" he complained to open air. "Bad enough I have to sense it, but now I gotta walk through it. God dammit…"

"Nuriel!" growled a familiar voice. Nuri hid under the bed. The shoes of Bakura walked passed the bed as the Druid's voice rang out. "Nuriel, I know you're in here! Where have you been?"

Nuri slid out from under the bed and replied, "Oh just…tracking that butt ugly chimera you two created."

Bakura frowned. "You're a liar."

"Now let's not resort to name calling. That's just rude." Nuri scolded and started to walk out of the room. Bakura waved his hand and the door slammed in Nuri's face. The white pooka turned and said, "That was also rude…"

"Keep quiet. You're helping them, aren't you?"

"Helping who? Are we fighting somebody?"

"Don't play stupid with me, Nuriel. You went to King Henry and told him everything, didn't you?" Bakura asked.

Nuri's tail twitched as he said, "W-Well…"

"You did! What the hell is wrong with you! I am trying to create a world for Ryou. I'm doing this all for his sake! I'm the only one who knows what's best for him!"

"Oh I see…and Ryou doesn't know what's best for him? He can't think on his own, right? Yeah, you have to do all the thinking for him." Nuri snapped.

Bakura made a red snake appear. It was a death charm. Nuri glared it unflinchingly. "Go ahead and kill me. Ryou and I are bonded so if I die, then he does too."

The Druid killed his death charm. "Damn you." He grabbed Nuri by the scruff of the neck. The pooka wriggled and fought against him.

"Put me down, damn you! That fuckin' hurts!" Nuri snapped as Bakura pushed him into a cage and locked it. The pooka struggled against the iron bars, but they were magic proof.

"There. Now behave or I'll banish you to a place where no one will ever find you." Bakura said, placing the key to the cage in his robes.

"When Ryou hears about this, I'll—"

"He won't. I'm going to serve the bond you share with him. Once that happens, then I'll kill you for betraying me and him."

"I betrayed no one, you bastard! Ryou asked me to tell Yugi everything."

Bakura slammed the bedroom door shut and locked it with another key. "Now I'll have a talk with my love."

——————

Yugi laid Diana on a beautiful, canopy bed of white silk sheets and fluffy, blue pillows with blue curtains. Melisanne stood by the door and asked, "Shall I bring anything? Food or drink? Medicine perhaps?"

"No thank you, Melisanne. But if you would do me a favor and check on her when you can and let me or Daelin know when she has awakened." Yugi said.

Melisanne bowed. "Yessir. I will do so." She left the room to give them some privacy.

Yugi stroked Diana's hair and kissed her forehead. "Oh you are so beautiful when you sleep my dear." She is so much stronger than when she first came here, Yugi thought. When I first saw her, I felt awestruck by how beautiful she was. I was in love with her the minute she fell into my arms. And when she held me on the battlefield, I wanted so much for us to stay that way. Yugi smirked and turned red a little. Who would have guessed that only a few weeks later that I would steal her virginity?

He kissed her cheek and ran a hand down her side and hip before tearing himself away from her. Yugi took one last look at his sleeping love before walking out of the room and back towards the throne room where Fin had appeared again and Daelin was repairing the damaged doors with his magic.

Fin turned and bowed to the King. "Sire, I heard you had come. Welcome to Thar Amrun. How is Diana? Is she all right?"

"For the last time, Fin," Jhada said, still lounging on Daelin's throne, "I told you that she wore herself out fighting her evil self."

Yugi turned to face Jhada completely. "Has she proven her strength to you now?"

"Well I think Daelin's busted front doors and the fact she's just twisted The Perfect Rule pretty much sum up her power. I know Daelin felt her power. I think he wet himself when he felt it too."

Daelin frowned at her as he finished the repair work. "I did not. Now get off my throne before I have you banished."

Jhada jumped down from the throne. "Calm down. I just wanted to toughen the girl up. I knew she had that much power. I was only helping her to awaken it. She's going to need that power when she faces Bakura. Defeating him is no picnic."

Yugi nodded. Daelin sighed. "There's still the matter of Rosenburg and what to do with him."

The King of Britain gritted his teeth behind his lips. He looked at Daelin and said, "I want to see Rosenburg."

Fin smirked. "Follow me and I'll take you to him. Want to kill him?"

"As fun as that would be, no I don't. He may have something useful to say." Yugi said. Besides, I want to rub the fact that Diana is now mine in his face, he thought wickedly.

—Heh…wonder how many "choice words" Yugi has for Rosenburg. Okay, I kinda made Jhada the evil bitch in that last chapter. Totally did not mean for her to sound that way. Jhada's not the one to despise; she's not that bad, honest. I brought Fin back too…he'll explain where he's been in Chapter 8. Diana's got a staff now…that's cool and the fact that she has a Blue Eyes White Dragon might make it a bit difficult to be friends with Daelin… - anyways…time for Review Responses!

Jaded – glad you like how I portray Jhada…heh…I think she sort of wants to be Diana's protector more than she wants to be Yugi's protector though…but yeah, now you know why she made Diana duel against herself…

Swift – Jhada is just one of those "tough love" kind of people...wait until the next Chapter to see what Yugi says to Rosenburg – xD

DarkShadow – well, y'know I originally thought about giving Daelin blue eyes, but then he hates the Blue Eyes White Dragon…yeah, that would be kinda weird, so I went with green and it sounded better…glad you approved

Sara and company with Lauren the fairy – I keep making your name longer…lol…anyways, Lauren shall make her debut in the next chapter. Also Bell is gonna pop back in and then pop back out…but then she'll make another appearance in Chapter 9 – so she's semi-important in the plot…

SG – well, there was the debut of your character! Hee…her brother and sister that live with her are gonna appear in the next Chapter for a little while. Wow, I have a lot of character debuts in Chapter 8. o.O My mother nags…you, on the other hand, don't nag so no worries…I like long reviews. Melisanne is gonna "slip in" again in Chapter 8 as well.

—I'm impressed with everybody's characters. They're all so great and I'm giving it my all to represent them in a way that makes people happy. I guess, in a way, this fic is as much everybody else's fic as it is mine. I'm always looking for character ideas. Thanks for creating such good ones, everybody ;)